Cartridge for projectiles



R. D. MCLEOD, JR CARTRIDGE RoR PROJRCTILES Filed Oct. 25, 1955 aa 2r as .Fame 9, i936.

f ITN/anim" Rmbgr't D Mr: LEU :1,1111

AttmrT-LE Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED 'STABS AATNT OFFIE CARTRIDGE FR PROJECTILES Robert D. McLeod,Jr., United States Army, Aberdeen, Md.

'Application October 25, 1935, Serial' No. 46,708

" 6 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manu factured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

5 This invention relates to a cartridge for projectiles.

In firing guns of the mortar and howitzer type, it is customary to Vary the range by varying the propellent powder charge. The charge is somelll times placed in a box or cartridge case having a cover which must be removed in order to withdraw that portion of the charge which is not required.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a ii cartridge wherein any desired portion of the charge may be withdrawn without removing the Cover from the cartridge case. This is accomplished by employing strip powder wound on a reel and having its outer end extending through ff) a slot in the cartridge case.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements described hereinafter and g pointed out in the claims forming a part of this d specification.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the improved cartridge showing a portion of the strip of powder projecting through the slot.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of a mortar with the cartridge and projectile loaded u therein.

" Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference there is shown a cartridge case comprising a cylindrical body 5, a top cover 6 forming a gas check and a bottom cover 'I. The top cover 6 has a close detachable fit on the body and the body is provided with a pair of lugs 8 8 soldered or otherwise connected thereto as indicated at 9-9. The lugs are each formed with an aperture I for receiving one of a pair of straps II-I I on the bottom cover. The top` cover is formed with a central downwardly extending boss I2 which carries a pin I3.

I, A reel housed in the cartridge case comprises a disc I4, a hub I secured to the disc by means of screws I6, spokes II xed in the upper end of the hub, and a rim IS carried by the spokes.

A diaphragm. I9 in the hub is shaped to receive 0 the boss I2 of the top cover and it is provided with an aperture to receive the pin I3. A stud ZI on the outer side of the disc serves to space. the disc from the bottom cover 1.

The propellent charge is in th'e form of a continuous strip '22 and it is wound on the reel. The outer end 23 of the strip is passed through a slot Zliin the body and is normally held in place by a piece of adhesive tape 25 which closes the ends of the slot.

The strip of powder is marked at intervals of l0 25 yards in numerical terms of range, the values increasing towards the outer end of the strip. In order to select a charge for a given range, the strip is pulled out of the cartridge case until the desired range appears, and the protruding'end l5 of the strip is then torn 01T.

In order to enable an operator to identify the range value by the sense of touch, a system of distinguishing markings are provided on the strip. As illustrated in Fig. 1, a large paper fas- 20 tener or clip 26 designates 500 yards, a small clip 21 designates 100 yards, and a hole 28 `desig- Y nates 25 yards. In the example shown in the drawing, two large clips, four small clips and three holes designate 1475. The strip is so thin 25 that as ne an adjustment as desired may be made either by the use of additional markings or by estimation between markings.

The propellent charge is ignited by a squib 29 having an electrical connection 30 passing through the top cover Ii. Since the adjustment of the propellent charge may be made without removing the cover there is no risk 0f breaking the electrical connection or permitting moisture to enter the case.

In Fig. 2 the cartridge case is shown inserted in the barrel 3| of a muzzle-loading mortar which is of a special type adapted for a projectile 32 -containing a chemical. The projectile seats on the top cover 6 of the cartridge case and has a projecting end 33 which is received in the socket of the boss I2.

When the propellent charge is ignited the top cover 6 follows the projectile and serves as a gas check.

I claim:

1. A cartridge comprising a case having a body formed with a slot, a bottom cover on the body, a top cover on the body detachably connected to the body, an inwardly extending boss on the top cover, a pin on the boss, a reel within the case and including a hub, a diaphragm receiving the boss of thetop cover in the hub and having an aperture receiving the pin on the boss, a strip of powder wound on the reel and having its outer end protruding through the slot in the body, and range identications on the strip.

2. A cartridge -comprising a case having a body formed with a slot, a bottom cover on the body, a top cover on the body, an inwardly extending boss on the top cover, a pin on the boss, a reel Within the case and including a hub, a .diaphragm receiving the boss of the top cover in the hub and having an aperture receiving the pin on the boss, a strip of powder wound on the reel and having its outer end protruding through the slot in the body, and range identications on the strip.

3. A cartridge comprising a case having a body formed with a slot, covers on opposite ends of the body, a boss on one end cover, a pin yon the boss, a reel within the case and including a hub receiving the boss, a diaphragm in the hub and f mounted on the pin, and a strip of powder wound on the reel and having its outer end protruding through the slot in the body.

4. A cartridge comprising a case having a body formed with a slot, end covers on the body, a reel rotatably mounted on one of the end covers, and a strip of powder wound on the reel and having its outer end protruding through the slot in the body.

5. A cartridge comprising a closed case having a slot, a roll of strip powder within the case and having its outer end protruding through the slot in the body, and range identifications on the strip.

6. A cartridge comprising a closed case having a slot, a roll of strip powder within the case and having its outer end protruding through the slot in the body.

ROBERT D. McLEOD, JR. 

